Boat with integral pram

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a boat wherein the cockpit is detachable and forms a pram.

United States Patent 1151 3,634,897 Cuccio 14 1 Jan. 18, 1972 154] BOAT WITH INTEGRAL PRAM 2,472,185 6/1949 Ape] ..9/7 3,065,020 11/1962 COX ..9/7 X [721 Cm"), 19 Gmve 3,179,961 4/1965 Ward et al. ..9/7 06830 3,347,201 10/1967 Szabo ..114/235 [22] Filed: Sept. 15, I969 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix PP N03 857,910 Assistant Examiner-F. K. Yee

Attorney-Buckles and Bramblett [52] US. Cl. Q. ..9/1 R, 114/415, [14/235 R Q 511 1111. C1 ..B63b 35 00 [57] ABSTRACT Field of Search 212C, 2 2 S, 7, There is disclosed a boat wherein the cockpit is detachable 1l4/.5,43.5, 235, 77, 77.l and formsapram.

[56] References Cited 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS l,076,068 lO/l9l3 Schleicher ..9/12

lAttmmmmz 31634397 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.

BOAT WITH INTEGRAL PRAM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION attention to tie downs. It is more common for boats of this type to tow a pram or a dinghy astern. However, this creates the problem of additional drag and careful attention must be given to the length of tow to prevent excessive slowing. Furthermore, the pram is actually an impediment when the boat is underway and it then serves no useful purpose.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a boat and pram wherein the pram may form anintegral and functional part of the boat when the boat is underway but is easily detached, when desired, for individual use. Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, there is provided a boat including a hull and a deck, the deck defining a recess therein. A removable pram is storable in the recess and forms an auxiliary deck when so stowed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may be best understood by reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a boat incorporating this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, partially broken away, of the stern portion of a boat incorporating a modified form of this inventron;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken substantially along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG/7 is a partial cross section substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but with the pram removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With particular reference to FIGS. 14 there is illustrated a boat incorporating this invention comprising the usual curved hull l0, deck 12 and cabin 14 having a cabin access hatch l6. Extending aft from the cabin on each side are splash rails 18, 20. The after portion of the boat terminates at a stem transom 22. The transom 22 is substantially U-shaped and is above the normal waterline. Formed in the deck 12 and transom 22 is an enclosed recess defined by a subdeck 24, a forward bulkhead 26 adjacent the cabin hatch l6 and port and starboard bulkheads 28, 30 respectively. The recess thus formed is substantially rectangular in plan view and positioned within the recess is a pram 32. The pram is designed to nest snugly within the recess with its bow end 34 against the forward bulkhead 26 and its sides 36, 38 against the port and starboard bulkheads 28, 30, respectively. The stem 40 of the pram is flush with transom 22 when the pram is so positioned. While various types of construction may be employed, the pram is preferably molded and may be, for example, of glass fiber self-bailing construction. Its stem 40 is relatively thick and defines therethrough a substantially vertical circular passageway 42 which is aligned with the post 44 of a rudder 46 supported in a bearing 48. The rudder post 44 carries a radially and axially extending key 49. The pram 32 is secured within the recess of the boat by means of tiller post 50. The tiller post is tubular at its lower end and is slotted to define a keyway which engages key 49 as shown in FIG. 4. The tiller post is inserted through the passageway 42 and into engagement with the rudder post 44, thus retaining the pram in its stowed position while permitting the boat to be steered by means of tiller 52.

The pram illustrated in FIGS. l-3 is provided with integrally molded side benches 54, 56 which also serve as flotation chambers. With the pram stowed and functioning as the cockpit of the boat, they also serve as cockpit seats. Mounted on the respective side benches 54, 56 are seat planks 58, 60 pivoted at their forward ends on respective pivot pins 62, 64. To provide transverse seats for rowing, it is merely necessary to pivot the seat planks 58, 60 on their pivot pins so that the free ends rest upon the opposite side benches, as illustrated by the broken lines in FIG. 1. They may be secured in these positions by any suitable means. It will also be noted that seat plank 60, when in this position, may be utilized as a step to hatch 16 when the pram is stowed to form the cockpit of the boat.

In order to launch the pram 32, it is merely necessary to lift the tiller post 50 out of its socket and slide the pram aft through the transom and into the water. The tiller post may thereafter be replaced so that the boat is operable even after removal of the pram. After use, the tiller post 50 is once more removed, the pram replaced in the recess, and the tiller post reinserted.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate several modifications of this invention. In these illustrations, those portions of the boat corresponding to portions of the boat shown in FIGS. 1-3 are given similar reference numerals.

One modification illustrated in these figures is that the pram does not extend the full length of the recess nor is it secured by the tiller post. Instead, that portion of the recess adjoining the transom 22 is provided with aligned slots 66, 68 in port bulkhead 28 and starboard bulkhead 30 respectively. The pram is shorter than the distance between these slots and the forward bulkhead 26 and, when the pram has been stored, a transom board 70 is slid into these slots to close the opening. After removal of the pram the transom board may be reinserted as shown in FIG. 8 to close the stern of the boat. Additional means of any conventional nature may be employed to secure the pram in rough weather if required. This modification may be especially useful in boats which are steered from a wheel rather than from a tiller. Another modification is that the stowed pram is utilized primarily as a footwell and seating is provided by seats 72 on main deck 12 between the pram and the splash rails 18, 20. The pram 74 is also different from pram 32 of FIGS. l-3 in that it is provided with integrally molded flotation chambers 76, 78 at its ends. These may serve as seats for the pram and, in addition, the forward flotation chamber 76 serves as a step to the cabin hatch 16. In this modification, a central seat plank 80 is mounted by means of a double pivot hinge 82 and a bracket 84 to one side of the pram. Opposite the bracket 84 on the other side of the pram is a support shelf 86. With the pram stowed in the boat, the seat plank 80 is stowed as illustrated by solid lines. For use in rowing the pram, however, the seat plank 80 is merely pivoted upwardly on pivot portion 82a and then down across the pram on hinge portion 82b to rest upon support shelf 86 as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 5. It may be secured in this position by any suitable means such as a pin extending through the aligned holes in the seat plank and the support shelf.

It is believed that the many advantages of this invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will also be understood that a number of variations and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from its spirit and scope. For example, if the boat is propelled by an outboard motor, the motor may be secured to the pram itself. With the pram detached, it could then be propelled by the outboard. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed as illustrative only rather than limiting.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boat including a hull and a deck, the improvement which comprises: a recess defined by said deck; a removable pram stowable in said recess and forming a cockpit when so stowed for the helmsman of the boat; and means for securing said pram in said recess.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pram includes at least one seat positioned longitudinally of said pram when stowed but selectively positionable transversely thereof for rowing.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein one end ofsaid seat is secured to said pram by a double pivot for longitudinal stowage in a substantially vertical plane.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pram includes at least one seat forming a step from said auxiliary deck to said deck.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said seat comprises a flotation chamber.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said recess extends through a stern opening and said pram is removable through said opening.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein one end of said pram closes said opening when stowed and forms a portion of said stern.

8. In a boat including a hull and a deck, the improvement which comprises: a recess defined by said deck and extending through a stern opening; a pram stowable in said recess and forming an auxiliary deck when so stowed, and removable through said opening; and a removable tiller post extending through said pram for securing said pram in said recess.

9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said boat includes a rudder having first keying means and said tiller post includes second keying means engageable with said first keying means.

at a t it a: 

1. In a boat including a hull and a deck, the improvement which comprises: a recess defined by said deck; a removable pram stowable in said recess and forming a cockpit when so stowed for the helmsman of the boat; and means for securing said pram in said recess.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pram includes at least one seat positioned longitudinally of said pram when stowed but selectively positionable transversely thereof for rowing.
 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein one end of said seat is secured to said pram by a double pivot for longitudinal stowage in a substantially vertical plane.
 4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pram includes at least one seat forming a step from said auxiliary deck to said deck.
 5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said seat comprises a flotation chamber.
 6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said recess extends through a stern opening and said pram is removable through said opening.
 7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein one end of said pram closes said opening when stowed and forms a portion of said stern.
 8. In a boat including a hull and a deck, the improvement which comprises: a recess defined by said deck and extending through a stern opening; a pram stowable in said recess and forming an auxiliary deck when so stowed, and removable through said opening; and a removable tiller post extending through said pram for securing said pram in said recess.
 9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said boat includes a rudder having first keying means and said tiller post includes second keying means engageable with said first keying means. 